About 50 members of Sherburne County Health & Human Services (HHS) Teamsters Local 320 let their displeasure be known about the contract proposal from the county by walking into the county boardroom at the beginning of Tuesday’s commissioner meeting carrying picket signs. The group was protesting the county’s contract offer by gathering en masse to show members of the board they were not accepting a proposal that would cut into some workers’ cafeteria benefits.

 

The county currently contributes $869.10 per employee per month for their cafeteria plan.

 

The county is proposing  a tiered system that reduces the contribution for those employees who take single coverage healthcare and increases the contribution by the same amount for those who take family coverage.

 

“We’re concerned about the healthcare proposals coming from county administration. It is of great concern that some of our folks who have single coverage are going to actually take a loss over the long term,” said Gus Fromke of Local 320. “We don’t think it’s fair and we don’t think it’s necessary.”

 

Sue Koch, who has 20 years with HHS, read a statement by one of her co-workers.

 

“I love my job and I love working for Sherburne County and I wish to work here until my retirement. However, taking a pay cut over three years would not work  financially for my situation and will ultimately force me to look elsewhere.”

 

Sherry Schwarzkopf, with HHS for 20 years, said one of the reasons given for switching to the tiered system was to cut down on claims. Typically, adults have more claims that children do.

 

“Imagine my surprise when we were presented with the county contribution amounts and found the tier with employee plus children was decreased,” she said. 

 

“The two tiers that were increased were employee plus spouse and family tier. Both tiers include a second adult, which will only contribute to the high claims experience, and therefore our premiums will also continue to rise.”

 

“I want to know where the compassion is,” said Julie Mayo of HHS. “These are people who are hired to have compassion towards others.”

 

She said 76% of people in HHS will be negatively affected by the benefits change. She said the turnover rate in HHS is already high and will probably get worse if the proposal went through.

 

“I’ve been here for 11 years and I’ve been very proud to say that I work for Sherburne County,” she said. “We are not lazy. We are not complainers. We work hard and we care for the people of Sherburne County. I hope something can be done to help me and others continue to feel that way.”

 

Human Resources Director Tammy Bigelow said the contract proposal also includes a wage restructuring that will increase salaries. 

 

“The county’s philosophy had been to pay at 90% of what several other counties pay,” she said. “Employees have requested that the pay philosophy be changed to market average or 100% of market.”

 

She said even with a shift in the healthcare structure, the majority of Teamsters will receive a significant increase in salary and benefits.

 

“A large majority of employees will see a double-digit increase,” she said. “And it’s important to note that under the proposal, 100% of the premiums will be covered for those who take single insurance for the upcoming year.”

 

Bigelow said nine of 11 unions have already agreed to the proposed shift in benefits. The county hasn’t met with the other union yet. After two negotiation sessions and two mediation sessions with HHS, there is still no agreement.

 

Until there is a settlement, employees will continue under the current contract, which expired Dec. 31, 2015.

 

Bigelow said she is not at liberty to divulge information about ongoing negotiaions, but it is her understanding there will be another vote at the end of July.